Donald Trump will not force the UK to take back former citizens who left the country to fight for Islamic State (also known as Isis), his incoming counterterrorism adviser has confirmed.
Sebastian Gorka, who is due to start his second spell in the White House assisting national security adviser Mike Waltz, had been accused of threatening to force Keir Starmer to take back former Isis terrorists, including Shamima Begum.
Begum, who left her home in east London to join Isis with two friends in February 2015, had her UK citizen revoked by former home secretary Sajid Javid and has been denied the right to return following legal challenges.
It had been claimed that Mr Gorka had said the UK government must honour its “commitment” to the international fight against Isis by taking back dozens of Britons in limbo in northeast Syria.
But in a statement first published in the Daily Express, Mr Gorka said: “I will not tell Prime Minister Keir Starmer, or any other of America’s allies what they should or should not do with their own citizens. However, protecting the innocent and fighting evil is an objective every decent person should agree with.”
He said he had been asked by The Times: “Should the UK be forced to accept them back [British Isis prisoners] and put them on trial considering how volatile the situation is in northeastern Syria since the fall of Assad?”
His response was: “Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment.”
The row has blown up in the UK with Labour foreign secretary David Lammy and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch stating neither would agree to Begum being allowed back in the country.
However, Nigel Farage told ITV that if the UK’s leading ally asked them to take Begum back, then the UK might have to do it, although he restated his opposition to the proposal.
The comment led to criticism from within his own party from some who thought he was too willing to do what Trump asked and a public attack from Ms Badenoch.
Posting on X, Ms Badenoch said: “A Conservative government led by me will never take back terrorists like Shamima Begum who have been stripped of their citizenship. Actions must have consequences or there is no deterrent.
“Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. It’s not an international travel document for crime tourism.”
But following Gorka’s clarification, Mr Farage told The Independent: “If Britain’s biggest ally does not want us to take Begum back then we definitely should not be doing it. I never supported the idea in the first place.”
